Cabinet design



L. H. DARBYSHIRE CABINET DESIGN Filed Oct. 9; 1933 lNVEN OR (3 .5&z' re ATTORNEY 2 k 4 60 Ward 6/ Patented Oct. 27, 1936 OFFICE.

CABINET ,DESIGN Leonard H. Darbyshire, Detroit, Mich, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Borg-l7l7armer florporation, a corporation of Illinois 7 Application October 9, 1933, Serial No. 692,882

13 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of cabinets generally employed for refrigeration purposes and has particular relation to the outer wall, frame, and supporting structure which such cabinets ordinarily embrace.

An object of the invention is to provide a cabinet which shall be easy to. assemble, attractive in appearance, and which can be manufactured at a cost comparable with the cost of cabinets of other designs now being produced. Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet for refrigeration purposes, the outer surface of which is covered by a shell embracing among other parts, a pair of end pieces or seetions which are provided with flanged edge portions projecting inwardly toward the central portion of the cabinet upon the front and upper walls thereof. v 7

,Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet having an outer shell portion formed to cover the surface thereof and embracing a pair of end sectionsconnected at the top by a top panel covering'only a portion of the upper surface of the cabinet with the remaining portion of such surface being covered by inwardly projecting portions of the panels employed for covering the ends of the cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new type of base or supporting legs for refrigerators which will'provide for the latter a -more rigid support and at the same time will give to the appearance of the entire structure a. more massive and pleasing effect.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a cabinet to be employed for refrigeration purposes, a' support consisting of, a pair .of spaced legs having a connecting portion adjacent the upper extremities thereof which will not only provide a stiffening element for the legs, but will provide a substitute for a panel member which ordinarily has been embodied in the cabinetstructure supported by the legs. r

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient separating member to be disposed between jthe'lower surface of a cabinet employed in refrigeration purposes and one or more of the legs supportingythe cabinet for the purpose of 1 deadening the sound vibrations generated inthe refrigerating mechanism employed in the cabinet and which might otherwise be transmitted through the cabinet legs to within the building in which the refrigerator is employed' 7 The embodiment'of the invention disclosed for thepurpose of illustration comprises generally a downwardly just below the front of the cabinet frigerat ing and machine compartment and that pair of end sections whichflh We present in- (iil. 220-9) stance, are formed from a single sheet of metal, by suitably constructed dies and each of which is provided with inwardly flanged edge portions at the upper and the front and rear edge portions thereof. The flanges at the front of the 5 end sections aforesaid, project inwardly for the purpose of covering the front surface of the cabinet beyond the door openings formed therein and at the upper extremities'thereof, the flanged portions project inwardly to provide 10 preferably a flush joint with an upper section, the forward edge of which extends downwardly toward the aforesaid door openings and in such region provides for closing the space between the inwardly flanged front and upper 15 portions of the end panels.

The refrigerator, if desired, may be provided with a frame of any suitable character, an in sulatedinner compartment for storing provisions, and a machine compartment for housing the refrigerating mechanism with which such cabinets ordinarily are provided. Any number of doors may be employed for obtaining access to the interior of the refrigerated compartment and to the machine compartment eniployed therewith.

The legs, in the present instance, are formed of stamped sheet metal and extend a considerable distance along the two sides of the cabinet adjacent each corner. The legs, however, may be formed of any suitable material and may be of any desired design.

At the front of the cabinet there is employed an elongated reinforcing panel which extends 35 and fills the space between the two front legs. Rubber gaskets .are employed between the flanged upper portion of each of the legs and the lower parts of the cabinet adjacent thereto and between the front-reinforcing panel and the legs and the lower part of the cabinet adjacent such panel. c It will be observed that a plurality of doors are employed on the front of the cabinet for theresuch doors are so closely disposed together as to provide a substantially continuous panel over the entire front of the cabinet in the. space within the border formed bythe inwardlyprojecting front flanges of the two side-panels, and the downwardly projecting front flange of the upper panel. This construction not only saves some of the material heretofore required in finishing up the front of a cabinet, but it contributes materially to the beauty and symmetry of the entire structure.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. front elevational view of a cabinet structure embracing the principles of the invention herein disclosed;

. Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the cabinet structure illustrated in fro'ntelevational view by Fig. a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the cabinet taken substantially in the plane of line 3--3 of Fig. 1; e

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the cabinet taken substantially in the plane of line 44 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at one of the upper corners of .the refrigerator and substantially in the plane of line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional 1 view taken in the plane of line 6-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken through the cross-frame structure at the lower front part of the insulated compartment formed in the refrigerator and illustratingthe structure as it 1 would appear substantially in the plane of line 1-1 of Fig. l; M

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially in,the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the base and a lower portion of the cabinet structure to which the base is secured, the view being taken substantially in the plane of line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

The cabinet l0 employed in practicing the invention consists generally of a pair of side walls II and 2, an upper wall i3, an intermediate wall or lower refrigerating compartment wall J4 and a rear wall l6. Inside the two walls H and I25 and between the lower wall 4 and the upper wall l3, there is formed a heat insulated refrigerating compartment I1, and beneath the wall I and between the walls H and I2, there is a machine compartment |8 in which the condensing unit (not shown) for the refrigerating mechanism is shown. The walls of the refrigerating compartment ll are provided with thick insulating slabs of any suitable character, and the walls of the machine compartment i8 are provided,-if desired, with relatively thin sound-absorbing slabs for damping out the vibrations and noises originating in the refrigerating mechanism located therein. r

The refrigerating compartment may have one or more doors such as those indicated at 2| and 22. When two'doors are employed, as in the present instance, there generally is provided a center post or pilaster, such as that indicated at. 23, for enclosing the space between the" doors and providing a solid obstruction against which the inneredges of the .doors are supported. These doors normally are heat insulated, as .are the remainder of the walls of the refrigerating compartment H. The front of the machine com-Q partment I8 is enclosed by a door 24 which is substantially ofthesame width as are the two doors 22 and 2|, and the upper edge of the door is spaced beneath the lower edges of the dooljs 2| and 22 by such a slight. distance as to give the entire front of the cabinet the appearance of 75- being covered by'a unitary panel. Considering The entire cabinet structure is supported by 10 -a base 21 consisting of front sections 28 supporting the front of the cabinet, and a pair of sections or legs 29 supporting the rear of the cabinet.

In order to provide a supporting structure for 5 the several walls of the cabinet I0, there is employed internally thereof, a frame 3|, the front portion of which is formed around the front of the cabinet to provide a door frame 32 through which the insulated refrigerating compartment 20 I! in the interior of the cabinet is accessible. The front and outer edges of the frame at the top and two sides of the cabinet surrounding both the refrigerating compartment l1 and the machine compartment ,|8 are relieved to provide a widely rounded edge indicated at 33, so that the exterior covering of the cabinet can be formed ,withthe desired contour in such regions. At the upper corners of the cabinet there are also a pair of rearwardly extended frame members indicated at 34 and the upper outer corners of which are rounded as indicated at 33, to provide clearance for permitting the formation of the outer shell of the cabinet in such'regions to provide the desired contour. 35

The rear of the cabinet is supported by a rear frame indicated at 38, consisting of a pair of vertical side members 31 and cross members arranged at points between the two for giving the frame the proper strength and rigidity. Vari-, 40 ous other cross members are provided between the front and rear frames 3| and 36 for the purpose of rigidly maintaining the two frames in properrelation. Inside the refrigerating compartment l1 and within the various frame members located thereabout and within the walls of ,the cabinet, there is disposedan inner shell or tank member 39, and the front edges of which are provided with flanges indicated at 4|, which are secured to the inside edge of the front frame 3| around the door opening formed therein.

Outside of the tank 39 and between the frame members thereabout, there are employed slabs of heat insulating material indicated at 42, which tend to materially reduce the flow of heat between the interior and the exterior of the cabinet.

Atop sub-panel 82, of wood or any other suitable reinforcing material, is disposed above the insulating material 42 on the top of the container 39 and is secured between the front, side, and rear top frame members and supported thereby in such a manner that the upper surface is flush with J that of said frame members. Sub-panel 62 is cut away at the side edges thereof to provide a groove extending across the top of the frame and 65 which is adapted to receive flanges provided on the top and side panels of the cabinet.

- For covering the exterior of the cabinet, there is employed an outer shell or covering indicated generally at 43 and consisting principally of a pair of side panels 44 and 46, an upper panel 41 and a rear panel 48. The two side or 'end panels 44 and 43 extend from top to bottom of the cabinet, along the sides of the machine compartment l8 and the refrigerating compartment I1.

and not only cover the two walls of the cabinet at the sides thereof, but'also cover portions of the erably are made of sheet metal and shaped in a,

die, suitable for the purpose, although it is apparent that they can be formed of any desired material and by any suitable process. The inner edges of the front flanges 49 are formed with securing flanges 53 which extend inwardly of. the opening to the refrigerating compartment l1 and are secured to the inner edges of the door frame 3| directly opposite the flanges 4i formed on the inner shell or tank 39. All of the flanges, such as are indicated at 4| and 53, are covered by trim strips indicated at 54, which are secured to the inner surface of the door frame 32 by screws 56.

The top flanges 5| and also the front edge of the front flanges 49 down to the door opening in the cabinet, are provided with inwardly projecting securing flanges indicated at 51, which project into grooves formed in the insulating material and the frame of the cabinet in regions adjacent thereto.

The side panels 44 and 46 are put on the walls of the cabinet by first inserting the securing flanges 53 inside the door opening and holding the remainder thereof away from the cabinet and upwardly beyond the normal position thereof, to such an extent that the upper securing flanges 51 are free to move above the upper surface of the cabinet. From this position, the sections are pivoted inwardly upon the flanges 53 .until the sides of the cabinet are engaged by the inward surfaces thereof, and the flange 52 is in panels 44 and 46.

position upon the rear cabinet wall. When the panels are in this position, the flanges 51 are immediately above the grooves formed in the top of the cabinet and may thereafter be inserted therein simply by allowing the panels to slide downwardly upon the cabinet side walls. In order to prevent the panels from rattling or from becoming displaced upon the frame,"any numberof screws, indicated at 6!, may be employed along the rear and upper edges of the panels to secure them in position. V

The top panel 41, which, in the present instance, is substantially of the same cross sectional contour as are the, two side panels 44 and 46, also has a front flange 63. projecting downwardly across the front of the cabinet and into the door opening space therein and the lowerend of which is provided with an inwardly projecting securing flange 64, which is adapted to be secured around the lower surface of the upper section of the door frame 32. The rear edge of the top panel 41 also is turned downwardly, as is indicated at 66, for the purpose of engaging a portion of the back of the cabinet, as do the'rear flanges 52 'on the side The opposite edges of the upper panel 41 are turned downwardly and inwardly across the top and :front andrear sections thereof, respectively and as is indicated at 61, to provide securing flanges 61 which are adapted to extend downwardly into. the grooves formed in the top, front and rear of the cabinet and into which the securing flanges 51 also project.

. When the upper panel 41 is in position upon the upper surface of the cabinet, the. flanges 61 ably formed with an outer meet portion 1| and an inner lock portion 12, which is adapted to project around the inner extremities of the flanges 61 and between which portions there is provided a web portion 13 which is adapted to retain the flangesil and 61 in properly spaced relation. The upper panel 41 is placed in position somewhat like the side panels 44 and 46, by inserting the securing flange 64 beneath the lower edge 'of the upper member of the frame 32 and then moving the rear of the panel downwardly until the rear flange 66 is in position beside the flanges 51. The gasket 69 is placed in position upon the flanges 61 before the top panel is moved into position, and consequently the gaskets slide downwardly into position between the flanges 51 and 61 as the top is moved into place.

It will be observed that the cabinet has the appearance, from the front sides and top thereof, of being constructed principally of three pieces consisting of the side panels 44, 46 and the top panel 41 and a plurality of doors covering substantially the entire front of the cabinet except for the space thereabout formed by the front flange portion of the top and two sides aforementioned. The top panel 41 is so formed and moved into position as to form substantially flush joints with the upper extremities of the two end panels 44 and 46, thus givingthe cabinet a pleasing appearance characterized by a classic simplicity of design.

The back of the cabinet can be covered by an ordinary flat covering such as that indicated at 48, and the outer edges of which are secured in any suitable manner inside the flanges 52 of the side panels 44 and 46 and the flange 66 of the top panel 41.

In the presentv instance, the doors 2i and 22 of the refrigerating compartment l1 and the door 24 of the machine compartment 18 are positioned in such manner as to extend outwardly a slight distance down the front of the cabinet to provide an outwardly projecting paneled effect, although it is apparent that the doors may be put on in any other desired manner without materially changing the appearance of 'the entire structure.

The base 21, consisting of the front section 28 and the two rear sections 29, normally is secured upon inwardly projecting flanges 16 formed along the upper edges of the parts, and between these flanges and the cabinet there are disposed a plurality of beaded rubber gasket sections indicated generally at 11. consist of a pair of massive legs 19 and 8t, and between which there is connected, with suitable rubber gaskets 82 and 83 at opposite ends thereof, a spacing panel or skirt 84. Adjacent the central portion of the panel 84 there is formed, outwardly from the restof the surface thereof, a projection 86, the surface of which is set atan angle to the The front section 28 of the base vertical surface of the cabinet and base adjacent thereto, to provide a region where the name of the product may be easily seen by anyone standing in front of the cabinet and looking downwardly. The spacing panel 84 is secured to the adjacent edges of the legs '19 and 8| by bolts 81 which are adapted to compress the gaskets 82 and r 83 between flanges 89 and 91 formed at the adjacent edges of the-aforesaid parts. It is 'preferable toprovide practically all of the edges of adequate structhe two legs 29. the legs 19 and 8|, and the spac-' I ture with adequate structural strength and in addition, to give the entire base a rugged and massive appearance. Where the doors on the front of the cabinet project outwardly thereof, as do 5 the doors in the cabinet l0, disclosed herein, it

may be desirable to provide the front face section with a forwardly projecting portion indicated at 93, in the region thereof just below the lower edge of the machine compartment 'door 24. This portion of the space carries out the general paneled effect formed by the doors in the front surface of the cabinet and prevents thedoors from having the appearance of overhanging-the base.

The frame structure, insulation, inner and outer coverings, the doors and the base, all may be manufactured as separate units and assembled in production in such manner that any part may be taken off and replaced, in the event it should appear defective or become damaged in any way.

. For cooling the refrigerating compartment of the cabinet, any desired type of refrigerating mechanism may be employed, and the heat dissipating unit for which may be located in the 5 machine compartment of the cabinet or wherever else desired.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features of the structure disclosed, but is to be considered broadly as is represented by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A heat insulated cabinet comprising a top wall, an end wall and a front wall having a door opening formed therein, said door opening having a vertically disposed edge portion in spaced relation to the outer surface of said end wall, said top and front walls having a groove formed across the upper surfaces thereof, respectively, in alignment with said edge of and terminating at 240 said door opening, and a flanged end panel for covering the end surfaces of said cabinet disposed outwardly of said groove and edge of said door opening and the corner formed by the juncture of said three walls, said covering having securing flanges'projecting inwardly of said cabinet for engagement therewith within said door opening and said groove.

2. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a plurality of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and including a top wall, a front wall, and a pair of end walls, said front wall having an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, and a door for closing said access opening,- covering means for said end walls and comsaid panels and extending continuously over and covering a corner between said top, endand front walls, said covering means completely and continuously covering said top and side walls and l the corners therebetween. 3. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a pluralit of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated, refrigerating compartment and including a top wall, a front wall, and a pair of end walls, said partment, a door for closing said access opening,

a preformed metallic top panel and ,a pair of preformed metallic end panels for completely and 5 continuously covering said top and end .walls, each of said panels being provided with an integral flange, said flanges extending over the corners between said front wall and said top and end walls, respectively, and each of the corners 10 formed by the junction of said top, front and end walls, said flanges completely and continuously covering that portion of said front wall between said door and said top and end walls respectively.

4. A cabinet structure having three adjoining 1 walls with a corner formed at the juncture of said walls, a continuous groove formed in the outer surface of two of said walls in spaced relationship to the third one of said walls, and a preformed cover for the outer surface of the third 20 one of said walls, said cover having a continuous portion covering said grooved walls between said groove and said third wall and the corner formed at the juncture of said walls and securing flanges arranged to fit within said groove.

5. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a plurality of heat insulating walls forming a heatinsulated refrigerating compartment and including a top wall, a front wall, and an end wall defining a corner of said cabinet, said front wall having an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerat ng compartment, a door for closing said openin a preformed metallic covering member for said top wall and a portionof said front wall and extending continuously 35 from the back of said cabinet to said door, and a preformed metallic covering member for said end wall and a portion of said front wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said door, one of said covering mem- 4 bers having a portion extending continuously over the corner between said top and end walls and abutting the other of said covering members i and covering the corner between said top, end and front walls. 45

6. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a plurality of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and including a top wall, a front wall and an end wall defining a corner of said cabinet, said front wall having 50 an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, a preformed metallic covering for said top wall and a portion of said front wall and extending continuously from theback of said cabinet to said 55 1 end and front walls.,

'7. IA refrigerator cabinet comprising a plural- 65 ity of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and including a top wall, a front wall, and a pair of end walls, said front wall having an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating 7o compartment, a door for closing said access opening, a pair of preformed, metallic and panels, one

for each of said endwalls, each of said panels covering an end wall and a portion of said front wall and extending continuously from the back 5 of said cabinet to said door, each of said panels further having a portion extending continuously over the corner between said top and end walls and covering the corner between said top, end and front walls, and a preformed metallic covering for completely covering said top wall between said pair of panels and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said door.

8. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a plurality of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and including a top Wall, a front wall, and a'pair of end walls,

said front wall hav'lng an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, a door for closing said access opening, a pair of preformed metallic end panels, one

for each of said end walls, each of said panels covering an end wall and a portion of saidfront wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said door, each of said panels further havng a portion extending continuously 'over the corner between said top and end walls and covering the corner between said top, end and front wall, and a preformed metallic covering for completely covering that portion of said front and top walls between said end panel and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said door.

9. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a plui'ality of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated compartment and including a top wall, a front wall and a pair of end walls, said front wall having an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, a preformed metallic covering for said top wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said access opening, the lateral edges of said covering being disposed-in alignment with the vertical edges of said access opening, a pair of preformed metallic end panels, one for each of said end walls, each of said end panels completely covering an end wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said access opening, each of said end panels further being provided with a flange portion extending continuously over the corner between said front, top and end walls and the corner between said top and end walls and covering that portion of said top wall adjoining and .therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, a door for closing said access opening, a preformed metallic covering for said top wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said door, the lateral edges I of said covering being spaced inwardly from and disposed parallel to the end walls of said cabinet, and a pair of preformed metallic end panels,

one for each of said end walls, each of said further being provided with a. flange portion extending continuously over the comer between said front, top andend walls and. the corner between said top and end walls and covering that portion of top wall adjoining and disposed laterally of said top wall covering.

11. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a plurality of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and including a top wall and a plurality of side walls, a preformed metallic panel for one of said side walls and including a flange extending continuously over portions of said top wall and the two of'said side walls adjacent to said one of said side walls, said panel also extending continuously over all of the corners between said three mentioned side walls and said top wall, one of said side walls having an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, one edge of said panel defining an edge of said access opening, and a preformed metallic panel for said top wall for completely covering the surface thereof adjoining said flange and having depending portions covering portions of said two adjacent side walls and the corners between said two adjacent side walls and said top wall, at least one of said depending portions extending downwardly substantially only to the level of the upper horizontal edge of said access opening.

125A refrigerating cabinet comprising a plurality of heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and including a top 'wall, a front wall and a pair of end walls, said front wall having an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, a door for closing said opening, a preformed metallic covering for said top wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said door, the lateral edges of said covering being disposed parallel with the vertical edgesof said door, and a pair of preformed metallic end panels, one for each of said end walls, each of said panels completely covering an end wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said ,door, each of said end panels further being provided with a flange portion extending continuously over the corners between said front, top and end walls and covering that portion of said top wall adjoining and disposed laterally of said top wall covering.

13. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a plurality of, heat insulating walls forming a heat insulated refrigerating compartment and including a top wall, a front wall, and an end wall defining a corner of said cabinet, said front wall having an access opening formed therein for providing access to said refrigerating compartment, a door for closing said opening, a preformed metallic covering member for said top wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to said door, and a preformed metallic covering member for said end wall and a portion of said front wall and extending continuously from the back of said cabinet to' said door, one of said covering members having a portion extending continuously over the corner between said top and end walls and abutting the other of'said covering members and covering the corner between said top, end and front walls.

LEONARD H. DARBYSHIRE. 

